We spent Saturday at Disneyland, which might be - as they say - the happiest place on earth... but hasn't always been so for people on a diet. Sure, you can bring your own food into the park and stow it in a rented locker...
... but the place is SO BIG, and you spend so much time walking from one end to the other, that you may not feel like heading back to the locker when hunger strikes. And that tends to occur a lot, because everywhere you turn, there are kiosks selling delightful smelling churros, ice cream, popcorn, hot dogs, etc., etc., etc.
This problem is doubled if you hold a "park-hopper" ticket, which allows you to wander freely from the original Disneyland to its younger sibling, California Adventure.
There are plenty of sit-down dining options, too - which traditionally offered fare like hamburgers, pizza and fries.
But a couple of years ago, the Walt Disney Company announced a new directive to provide healthier kids' meals for their guests. "This is a terrific initiative because it makes it easier for parents, even while on vacation, to provide their children with a well-balanced meal with kid appeal," Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said at the time. "An overwhelming majority of parents tell us they prefer the more nutritious meals for their children over other options."
The change is noticeable: from fresh fruit cups sold at some of the kiosks alongside the sweets... to a child's spaghetti lunch that includes a nice piece of poached chicken and apple slices.
And from what I've seen, the directive to improve the nutritional offerings for kids has spilled over to adult meals. With a little planning, you can get through an entire day at Disney without straying from your diet... if you so choose.
Below is an informal rundown of your best bets in both parks:
(NOTE: I have not eaten in all of these park outlets, nor have I seen anything that lists the actual nutritional information for the menu items. I offer these here as guidelines to help you find the outlets with your best options.)
DISNEYLAND
Main Street:
- Blue Ribbon Bakery: Sells whole fresh fruit and a nonfat vanilla yogurt fresh fruit parfait. You can also grab a cup of coffee (or espresso/cafe latte/cappuccino) here.
- Carnation Cafe: Ask for the Chef's Salad with dressing on the side.
- Main Street Fruit Cart: Lots of healthy snacks on offer here: whole fresh fruit and cut watermelon, pineapple, mango and grapes, dill pickles, carrots and ranch dip.
- Plaza Inn: There's a Cobb Salad on the menu. I've found that I can enjoy this dish dry (or with just the teensiest drop of dressing).
Tomorrowland:
- Redd Rockett's Pizza Port: Cafeteria-style offerings have an entire section devoted to salads (and all come with dressing on the side!). Standard choices are Chicken Caesar (you may wish to pick out the croutons), Asian Chicken (you may wish to pick out the rice noodles), Planetary Pizza (lettuce with pepperoni, Roma tomatoes, mixed olives, and a Parmesan cheese blend) and a mixed green salad. Their offerings also include a special salad that changes with the seasons.
- Tomorrowland Terrace: The Solarflare Salad with Grilled Chicken comes with dressing on the side. Vegetarian offering is a grilled vegetable sandwich (red bell peppers, zucchini, lettuce, tomato, Provolone cheese, guacamole, and tomato pesto mayonnaise).
Fantasyland:
- Village Haus Restaurant: Either the Chef Salad or the Fresh Fruit Salad.
ToonTown:
- Clarabelle's: This appears to have the same menu as the Village Haus. Try either the Chef Salad or the Fresh Fruit Salad.
Frontierland:
- Rancho del Zocalo: The Mexican fare here includes citrus-marinated roast chicken (a la El Pollo Loco). You can also lower the calorie/carbs in the fajita-style beef and chicken tacos by leaving the tortilla on your plate. Do substitute the sauteed vegetables for the rice and beans. Bypass the tostada for the Hacienda Chicken Caesar Salad (pick out the tortilla chips and seeif they can make one for you with the dressing on the side).
- River Belle Terrace: Carved meats (including some really good turkey!) are offered in sandwiches and salads. Both are made to order, so be sure to ask for your dressings on the side. Vegetarian offerings are a Po'Boy sandwich and a Harvest salad.
I also saw a kiosk here selling chimichangas, corn on the cob and turkey legs. Of course, I'd go with the latter.
New Orleans Square:
- Blue Bayou: This is the lovely restaurant located within the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It's pricey and tough to get into unless you reserve in advance (which you may be able to do by calling (714) 781-DINE).
Almost any of the entrees would be fine on a diet if you make allowances at your other meals (because of portion size). Be sure to ask for the meats to be served dry with sauces on the side - and if carbs are an issue, you may ask them to substitute vegetables for the rice or potatoes.
Another option would be the Gulf Stream Shrimp Remoulade appetizer.
- Cafe Orleans: Try the house salad with the raspberry vinaigrette on the side if you're not too hungry. Or you can order a chicken, salmon or Caesar blackened chicken sandwich dry -- and omit the bread, if you choose. (Just steer clear of the Monte Cristo sandwich -- too much fat.) There's also a Creole ratatouille for vegetarians.
- French Market: Lots of good entrees here: the roasted chicken breast, roast beef and salmon are your best bets. All come with seasonal vegetables (good) and a starchy side dish (potatoes or rice - may not be so good if you are limiting carbs). Either way, you should probably keep away from the yummy cornbread.
The vegetarian option here is a four-cheese vegetable gratin with pasta -- not the best bet if you're also trying to stay low in calories.
Adventureland:
- Bengal Barbecue offers a variety of grilled, skewered meats and vegetables; perfect for a quick meal or a snack.
- Tiki Juice Bar: You can get a fresh pineapple spear here for a quick, sweet treat. I would avoid the fruit bowl, as the canned fruit includes added sugar.
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE
- Wine Country Trattoria: The original Disneyland park does not serve alcoholic beverages, so those of us who enjoy a glass of wine with dinner were pleased to discover that you can do so at California Adventure. If that's allowed on your diet, this is an excellent choice for lunch or dinner.
Best bet for dieters here is the Chicken
Bruschetta Salad: Poached chicken, basil, romaine hearts, Roma
tomatoes, shaved Romano cheese in balsamic vinaigrette with a garlic
crostini. You may wish to ask them to omit the crostini and put the
dressing on the side. I also warn you to keep away from the
breadsticks.
- Baker's Field Bakery: You can get either a Chicken Caesar salad or a Classic Salad (my guess is this is just mixed greens). As always, ask for the dressing on the side.
- Cocina Cucamonga: Mexican fare includes beef or fajita tacos. These are relatively low in calories as long as you leave the tortillas on your plate. You may substitute sauteed vegetables for the rice and beans.
- Farmer's Market: Chicken Caesar salad or Caesar salad.
- Pacific Wharf Cafe: Chinese Chicken Salad, Sonoma Chicken Salad or Shrimp Louie Salad are all good choices with dressing on the side. But they come with a warning: All are served in a bowl of sourdough bread! If you have trouble resisting that (and I know I would), you may wish to dine somewhere else.
- Pizza Oom Mow Mow: Chicken Caesar salad or Caesar salad.
- Taste Pilot's Grill: A salad of grilled chicken breast served over lettuce, with cucumber, cheese, diced tomatoes, black olives and crunchy cucumber flavored noodles.
- Fairfax Market: Snacks include whole fruit and carrot sticks with ranch dip.
- Sam Andreas Shakes: Lots of healthy snacks on offer here: whole fresh fruit and cut watermelon, pineapple, mango and grapes, dill pickles, carrots and ranch dip.
So there you have it. I confess that I really wanted one of the churros on sale yesterday... and there are times when I feel like I'd kill for a burger. But I'm really happy that I couldn't use being at Disneyland as an excuse for dropping off the diet wagon on Saturday.
As for the Superbowl? I've no excuses for that. The diet continues.
Cross-posted at my diet blog, High Maintenance.
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